 |
CAT Tracks for September 29, 2013
JONATHAN KOZOL REVIEWS 'REIGN OF ERROR' |
Jonathan Kozol is one of the "biggies" in the field of education, writing many books and giving lectures far and wide.
He has read Diane Ravitch's latest book and provides his review...
From the New York Times
CAT Tracks Editor's Note:
I am halfway through the book...
Yesterday, as I read Chapter 16 (The Contradictions of Charters) and Chapter 17 (Trouble in E-land"), I could only shake my head in amazement at the millions and billions of taxpayer dollars diverted from public education into the pockets of greedy "entrepreneurs". Much of this money is then funneled into the campaigns of "friendly" politicians. Without any sense of hypocrisy (or shame), these politicians pass laws that exempt charters and online schools from any public oversight.
No public oversight of public funds!
When taken to court, the judges rule that "private corporations" cannot be forced to reveal their financial records...
...whereas public schools (rightfully) have to disclose where their money comes from and more importantly where it goes.
Education in the United States is literally viewed as an "emerging market" by the business world, a targeted investment for hedge fund operators.
Hey...
The dot-com bubble burst, the housing-market bubble burst. It's time to move on to the next cash cow!
Will this "industry" fare any better than its predecessors?
Frankly, taxpayers, they don't give a damn!
Whether education improves, whether public schools are replaced by brick-and-mortar or online charters, the investors rake in huge profits in the interim.
Or, as the 800-pound gorilla might say:
After all, Bill Gates has his, we're just the peanut gallery.
"It would be great if our education stuff worked but..."
